The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-01-19

Mary came in, and poor old James m,
who was noddiug over the kitchen fire.
and who had grown old in his IN rster's
service, overwhelmed with sorrow at the
loss Of one they had so much cause to
love and honor.
lawyer Wimple looked up through his
spectacles at the infirm old man. who
stood irresolutely at the half-oPen door.
Good morning. jameson come in.
Its cold morning for one like you TO be
out in"
That it Is, sir. begs pardon for in
trudin', but me an my old woman Is in a
heap of trouble, an. no mistake An
last night, as we was talkin' it over, 'Hus-
BAN says Becky Jane, says she, you 20
an tell Lawyer Wimple bout it, an I'll
be bound he'll find some way to help
US"
IN help you if can, jameson. What
i it?"
Wal, sir, you know how how old Mr..
Boyd allers said that We should have the
cottage down by the river, rent free. 80
long as We lived; an We allers counted
ont. But his nevy, Rodney, who's the
heir=at-law, say they amt no papers to
show fort, an that it'll be sold with the
rest. Its ruther hard to be turned adrift
on the world, at my time Of fe; an l
know my good old master never meant
that it should be 80"
Certainly not I've aiten heard Mr..
Boyd speak of it. have been out West
and did not learn of his death until yes
terday. Do you mean 10 say that he left
no will ?"
No, / don't say that, sir; only there
amt none to he found
HUM" responded the lawyer, in
muSins tone
An there's Miss Mary" pursued jam
eson, that the old man Hers Sot sich
store by-it don't seem that he'd leave
things 80 that her very home would be
sold from over her head, as its goin' to
be now"
understood lately that Mr. Boyd in
tended leaving the larger part of his
property 10 his nephew; but don't
think he meant than he should have the
whole-in fact, I know he didn't"
1" II amt for the likes of me 10 say
nothin' again Mr.. Boyd's nevy, but he's
his fathers own son, and everybody
knows what Tom Boyd was Mr. Rod
ney. he sot up with his uncle the night
he diei-none on Us thinkin' he'd 90 off
So student And | minded when came
into the room, after lac called us, that
there was a strong smell Of burnt paper.
picked up this here on the hearth. II
has bit o writin' ont and = brUng ii
along, thinkin' that p'raps You could tell
what il me nj"
squire Wimple took from old Jane
sons trembling hand bit Of scorched
paper
he could make 0ut only these words /:
Il bequeath 10 my faithful servant
But it was in Simon hoyd's Grabbed
hand writing and curious smile came TO
the lawyers lips as he looked at it.
Have you said anything about this to
any one
" No, sir"
That is we'll keep quiet about it. I'll
see Mr.. Rodney Boyd myselfand fix mat
tiers right Is Miss Marry still at the
house "
E. Yes, sir; but she's goip Tomorrow.
You see she applied for the deestrict
school at the Corners an deekin Pllmer
called this morniu' to say she could
have it,
Tell her not 70 90 to the Corners I'M
til l see her. And dont f1g worry, ia ne
sou, ae3aI your little home being taken
away from YOU
Squire Wimple put on his oyercoat and
sailed out on his mission
He SOUND Rodney boyd al home sur
r4unded by quite crowd, anxious To get
into the good graces Of the heir to the
Boyd property,
hut the lawyer did not seem at all in
oliued to pay court to him.
q" / understand that you have offered
this house for sale on what authority -
On the authority o. beins it2 late
owners ne.tesi relative and helr-at-law, -
Was the blandly-smiling response.
Providing he left no will Am Ito
understand that there l. none?
Certainly you may really don't see
why my uncle sRould a.akr will. when
thefe is only one person with any legal
claims, and he the heir-at-iaw.7
Hump, think his adopted daughter,
and faithful old servant have some claims
to be considered
ppesuine my uncle thought that, in
taking care of this girl until she was Is,
and giving her a good education, he did
all that could be required y aim. An
ss foF Jameson, he had his wages, 50 long
as be worked, and ! don't know why he
should expect more"
Hump So you are sure Simon Boyd
left no will?"
I've already told You 80. sir," returned
Rodney in an irritated tone. DO YOU
doubt my word, or suspect me Of unfair
,lealing?"
BiEss You, not a hit of 1t responded
squire Wimple, rubbing his hands to-
gether with a candid and cheerful air
. | only asked for information. Because,
you see, if there's no viii of later date
| had an idea ihere was-this one is in
force, and which drew up for him more
than year ago"
Rodney sank back in his chair pale
and TREMBLING